Migrant students visit Capital to learn about politics

Gabriela and Miguel are both newcomers from Venezuela, migrant students and sophomores at Northglenn High School. They participated in the Close Up program in Washington, D.C. this April. This program is for new Americans to learn how to get involved and have a voice in issues that are important to them. This is a partnership that the Migrant Program at the Colorado Department of Education has with the Close Up Foundation in Washington DC.

Fifty migrant students from across Colorado were selected to participate in the program by completing an application process where they showed good academic standing, a strong moral character, and wrote a letter to a representative or senator. The students also had the opportunity to attend two classes before the trip where they learned how the local and state government functions. Through their completion of this program students obtain civics credit.

Gabriela says, "De este viaje aprendí como funciona el gobierno de Estados Unidos y como podemos hacer un cambio en nuestra comunidad , esta oportunidad marcó una diferencia en mi conocimiento y también porque ahora en el futuro puedo crear un cambio en mi vida y en la de otras personas." ("From this trip, I learned how the U.S government works and how we can make a difference in our community. This opportunity made a difference in my understanding because now I know that in the future I can make a change in my life and in the lives of others.")

– Submitted by Julio Hernandez Mendez